ITV Racing Tips for Saturday 1st April from Doncaster and Kempton

1:50 Doncaster 

The return of the UK flat season on ITV begins with the 5f 2 year-old sprint that is the Brocklesby Stakes. A race full of newcomers it’s hard to have a strong view but the market may well tell us a lot.

The early market vibes suggest VALADERO (7/4) will take some beating here. Amo Racing are known for starting their 2 year-olds early and they go to pre-training prior to joining their yards for the start of the season. He looks the part on paper and I’m sure he’ll be ready to go given he’ll have been on the go. Connections targeted their best 2 year-old at this race last year who duly obliged and I’d be surprised if the same thing doesn’t happen this year.

 

2:05 Kempton

The first race from Kempton on the Polytrack is the Magnolia Stakes, a listed contest over 1m2f.

I like TYRRHENIAN SEA (6/1) here from the Roger Varian stable. He was well fancied for the Winter Derby on seasonal return and he finished a good second to Lord North. That form looks a lot better now after last weekend and I’d be hopeful he’ll strip fitter from that effort. He may have a fitness edge over some of his rivals as a result and he’s still lightly raced so further improvement looks assured. He boasts a strong AW record and I think he can go well.

 

2:25 Doncaster 

The next race from Doncaster is a competitive renewal of the Spring Mile handicap.

I like ARTHURS REALM (10/1) here. The winner of this contest last season, I’m sure this will have been the main early season target again this year round. A lot of his rivals will need this outing but he’s already had a pipe opener. Similar to last year it was a 6th place finish at Newcastle and although he’s higher in the weights this time around, I feel he’s a better horse. Oisin Orr is a good jockey booking.

 

2:40 Kempton

It’s back to Kempton for the 2:40 race and it’s another competitive handicap over the mile.

The one I like in here is AL MARMAR (6/1) NB. The duo of Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy. He ran at a decent level last year in competitive races at the right track such as Ascot, Newmarket and York. He returned to action a couple of weeks ago at Newcastle and looked in desperate need of the run. I’d be hopeful that has brought him on and again being the age of 4, he may well be able to improve past this lot.

 

3:00 Doncaster 

The 3:00 from Doncaster is the Cammidge Trophy Stakes, a listed contest over the 6f.

The one I like in here is FAST RESPONSE (6/1) EW. I’m surprised at the difference in price between the two Karl Burke horses here. Fast Response was a real improver towards the back end of last season and that included two victories here at Doncaster, one over 5f and one over this 6f trip. He will relish the testing conditions here and he’s a fair each-way price.

 

3:15 Kempton

The last of three races from Kempton on ITV is a handicap for the stayers, a 2m contest known as the Queens Prize Handicap.

I think AZTEC EMPIRE (6/4) NAP can land the double for Murphy and Balding here. A winner on two of his last three starts with both wins coming at Kempton. The first came over 1m4f but it was his victory here last month over this trip that reads well. The step up to 2m looked to be exactly what he needed and he bolted up really beating a solid yardstick in Withhold. There’s definitely more to come and I think he’ll win again.

 

3:35 Doncaster 

The finale at Doncaster is the feature, the always competitive Lincoln Handicap over the straight mile.

The one I like in it is ATRIUM (10/1) EW for the Charlie Fellowes stable. I was really taken by his win here to end his 2022 campaign when winning a decent handicap on soft ground staying on well over the mile. His victory before that at Newbury was encouraging too and the fact he’s only 4, there looks sure to be more improvement to come. He’s drawn in 13 so any alarming draw bias shouldn’t be too much of a concern. He will be well suited by a decent pace with plenty of runners as he likes to come from off the pace. I think he will make a bold bid.

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